Hong Kong Has Found These Two Pro-Democracy Journalists From Stand News Guilty Of “Sedition”
The two journalists, Patrick Lam and Chung Pui-kuen, were former editors-in-chief at the now-defunct Stand News, one of Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy media outlets.
Hong Kong has found these two pro-democracy journalists guilty of “sedition” – or rebelling against the government.
(Left) Former Chief Editor of Stand News Chung Pui-kuen and (Right) Former Acting Chief Editor of Stand News Patrick Lam posing for a photo in front of the Wan Chai District Court on December 13, 2022 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo credit: Getty)
The two journalists, Patrick Lam and Chung Pui-kuen, were former editors-in-chief at the now-defunct Stand News, one of Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy media outlets.
Photo credit: Getty
Following the mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, Stand News had remained as one of the last outlets that openly criticized the Hong Kong government.
Protesters march on a street during a rally against the extradition law proposal on June 9, 2019 in Hong Kong. (Photo credit: Getty)
Chung Pui-kuen, former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct pro-democracy publications Stand News, leaves the District Courts after being granted bail following a verdict hearing in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (Photo credit: Getty)
Authorities said the outlet had published “inflammatory” content aimed at inciting hatred towards the government.
Boxes of evidence are loaded onto a truck from the offices of online media outlet Stand News during a police raid in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (Photo credit: Getty)
On Aug. 29, a court in Hong Kong found Lam and Chung guilty of “conspiring to publish seditious materials”.
Former chief-editor of Stand News Chung Pui-kuen enters the Wanchai Law Courts ahead of a verdict for Hong Kong Stand News sedition trial in Hong Kong, China, on August 29, 2024. (Photo credit: Getty)
The judge said that some of Stand News’ articles had promoting “illegal ideologies” or smeared the national security law and security officers, becoming a tool for smearing the Chinese and Hong Kong governments during the protests in 2019.
A box of evidence collected from the offices of online media outlet Stand News is loaded onto a truck during a police raid in Hong Kong, China. (Photo credit: Getty)
This is the first time journalists in Hong Kong have been tried for sedition since 1997, when Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China under the “one country, two systems” policy.
The policy stated Hong Kong would retain its own government, independent courts, press and economic systems for at least 50 years after reunification.
Rights groups have condemned the latest verdict as an attack on press freedom as the journalists were simply doing their jobs.
An anti-extradition protester waves a black flag on a street outside the Legislative Council Complex ahead of the annual flag raising ceremony of 22nd anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China. (Photo credit: Getty)
Lam and Chung will be sentenced in September and face up to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars or about US$640.
Isha Jain
